[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6579281,"mediaKeyId","3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e","parentId",3093066,"title","Richland council splits on girls' sports letter; approves mayoral support for IAEA declaration","audioSeconds",369,"startMs",6561000,"endMs",6930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e&start=6561&end=6930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e/thumbnail_6561000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579281/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-council-splits-on-girls-sports-letter-approves-mayoral-support-for-IAEA-declaration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579281-991177ec93fe80413ce46348842bc141/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191122&Signature=QwMUjV1U~Qx3mG0oQ-ojlwZbcjgzDzpJUvUE11Yrix4QE3CkZx9rNBqTVcelZ9yvl4yq8vxbzv80tfmjNbvAijQzHjtI0dOUpb-AynS2qMyVxVcptc0rDJZzAyEm1wHU1wCd1kwz1ekOjB5N1pwAtsQby~M3~1C9YehDutPV95pwQZ64e9THFSDeyvglLxEchHwfRBdXTna9Jh1DuLG7BtZvIJrIgTEJYxkAb1pVWQB~9paNsjD0kATKn-mkpUuB4fxDnjbKJjlsGr1INhP8CS~llWJroEdocZd4Lqhyt0vM9k~XRptyZ0SSWVhL~5fZ1NlRylwErqOMMggAdAsxvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richland","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","During the April 22 workshop the council considered two external letters for the mayor to sign and discussed future workshop items and regional committee representation.

The first request was a mayoral declaration being circulated in connection with an International Atomic Energy Agency conference on host communities to nuclear facilities. Staff said the declaration emphasizes community engagement and consent in decisions tied to nuclear energy. Several council members voiced support; staff said the mayor would proceed with signing given council concurrence.

The second letter asked local mayors to sign a statement addressing policies for girls’ sports. The item prompted split views. One council member urged support, saying the letter’s language rightly emphasized empowering communities and consent in engagement. Another council member strongly objected, calling the letter “politics in its most cynical form” and arguing that it was unnecessary at local government levels; that council member said federal data indicate very few athletes would be affected and that school districts can manage such cases individually.

Mayor and staff noted their practice is for the mayor not to sign letters that lack a majority of council support. At the end of the discussion staff reported only three council members had indicated affirmative support for the sports letter; four affirmative votes would be required for a majority. The mayor therefore did not proceed with a signature on that letter during the meeting.

Other business: council asked staff to provide details on regional bodies and upcoming workshop scheduling. Staff said information would be provided about the county Law and Justice Council and that the city would consider adding a third representative to the Tri‑Cities regional PFD board (state law permits three city representatives). Staff also noted a standing practice to circulate quarterly PFD financial packets and agreed to make those reports more directly available to council members.

No formal votes were recorded on any of these items at the workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richland - City Council Workshop - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council reviewed two requests for the mayor's signature: an International Atomic Energy Agency host‑community declaration, which drew broad support, and a regional letter on girls' sports that divided council members and did not secure a majority mandate for the mayor to sign.","taxTitle","Richland , Benton County, Washington","taxId",5097,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579286,"Richland reviews Public Facilities District agreements, contingency fund and regional sales‑tax limits",1910,4633000,6543000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e&start=4633&end=6543","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e/thumbnail_4633000.jpg","/articles/6579286/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-reviews-Public-Facilities-District-agreements-contingency-fund-and-regional-salestax-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579286-754453554e952612f5519f1326564851/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191122&Signature=K7vicOEGdnHwcrjsvbUdvcfDQ7NhuGvif30MleFTM~QNy8QMF~0bkIXXwsJXY3laZfZwM~VQb3XZreU-L67sgPgbM2uXTWYlEhBNf~BfNo~4Mr4ZHcl9UCG0NNjGC6gXq~g0TMzGnDPwpWfT8doLbtJ-rspunimJl9ibz28PzvhovGzsEMUvjBsCQhzen7b20Iv97wwrWc3VROsaA0foeGMmj-ozjkGbTMGp0uJQ77DrRQV52tKrhfgIjhRkTuKxmGkwIT8wm9hOhJ-iUFTW~Wosz~nunnfmZC7mKWwox6knZm9fg8S2s0XM0lcfY0HyPN8WKkGT0z9yHi-PVjJNfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a council workshop on April 22, 2025, city staff reviewed the legal and contractual relationships between the City of Richland and the Richland Public Facilities District (PFD), and explained how a regional PFD and state sales‑tax limits affect future financing options.

Joe Shushel, who presented the item, summarized the PFD’s formation and the active agreements that shape current obligations. “The first place you wanna look when when evaluating our our legal relationship as a city with the PFD is state law,” Shushel said, referring to the RCW chapter that governs public‑facilities districts.

Shushel listed four active agreements the city still has with the PFD: the 2011 Columbia Park West sublease (the underlying property is leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), a 2013 facility contingency fund agreement, a 2015 contingent loan agreement tied to PFD bond debt service, and a 2015 interlocal agreement that commits lodging‑tax receipts to the project.

Key details reported to council:

- Columbia Park West sublease: The sublease ties the PFD’s site term to the city’s recreational lease with the Army Corps; the presenter said the term extends to 2054 and annual rent on the sublease is $1. The sublease purpose is to construct and operate an interpretive center open to the public.

- Facility contingency fund: City finance presented the fund as meeting or exceeding its required minimum balance. Finance director Brandon Allen said: “The balance in that fund is kind of just shy of $400,000 — 398 thousand dollars and change.” Council asked about the minimum required balance; Allen said the minimum is formula‑based and the current balance is at or above that level.

- Contingent loan agreement: The 2015 agreement creates a city debt‑service loan contingency if the PFD cannot make payments on PFD‑issued bonds. Under that agreement, if the city were to loan money to cover missed PFD debt service it could collect interest and, depending on amounts, acquire small ownership interests; staff reported the contingency has never been activated because the PFD has remained current on payments.

- Interlocal financing agreement: A restated agreement commits $125,000 annually from city lodging taxes to the project; the term runs until the debt is retired or a stated calendar date in the agreement (the presenter said the restated term began in June 2015 and identified the date tied to the agreement’s stated term end in 2029). Staff noted the possibility of refinancing in the future, which would affect the timing of that agreement’s expiration.

Shushel noted statutory powers available to PFDs under state law (RCW chapter 35, PFD statutes), including the ability to issue bonds, charge a facility fee and receive the state share of sales tax (0.033 percent). He explained that PFDs may impose an additional sales‑tax rate of up to 0.2 percent subject to voter approval, but the statewide cap and overlapping jurisdictions complicate options. Allen and Shushel walked the council through hypothetical models showing how a regional PFD overlay and city PFD taxes could combine to exceed the 0.2 percent cap in some configurations; Pasco’s PFD has already used the full 0.2 percent in the region, a factor that limits options for a regional PFD tax increase.

Council discussion focused on oversight and coordination. Council members asked for clearer access to PFD financials; staff noted PFD packets are publicly posted and that the PFD provides quarterly financial reports to the city, and agreed to make quarterly materials more directly available to the council. The council also discussed regional coordination: state law authorizes city representation on the regional PFD and Richland currently sends two representatives though it is allowed three; several council members asked staff to return with options for council representation and with more detail on how overlapping PFD taxing authorities interact.

No formal actions or votes were taken; staff identified topics for follow‑up including clarifying the contingency‑fund minimum calculation, confirming interlocal term dates tied to the debt schedule, and returning options for council representation on the regional PFD.","Council workshop examined the legal and contractual ties between the city and the Richland Public Facilities District, including a sublease, contingent loan agreement, a contingency fund (about $398,000) and regional sales‑tax constraints that limit future PFD taxing capacity.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579291,"Richland launches 'Future in Focus' to coordinate transportation, land‑use and parks planning",4393,31000,4424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e&start=31&end=4424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093066-d7a720efa5b45e05fdf3944d855cdd4e/thumbnail_31000.jpg","/articles/6579291/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-launches-Future-in-Focus-to-coordinate-transportation-landuse-and-parks-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579291-3182bbf57b0f707a8f74d4ab537a118f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191122&Signature=OBx1v2f1roynEnziecPlVvM46PklDje8P897xYoK0tdfDYeDAUVfBI7uVXOwMEPITc8e0Og~GUtd30eSMnFDiRewzf37co1yPRqUbp3i9aJqgOLTQM4rYdyIXDw9cBctznkimkycfozhUyjaYF9Xi~lY9vYZcaSsIFmIslV3cazH7zVcULuSFq~l0KlOXXsvbV1JEspbYtM9YftwBY2Cqr~dzIKqBBjqr3xNSYKyPAk9O103T7zlrcDxGwQ7iKSGAB9a35xUO5~LuCN5o8VSKuWNTIOukMaIZ3LN16~6qIAj9ljK7YTZ~kxPyRxFEjU~xyW6PcY8gz7Zb7k0cU26~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richland City Council on April 22, 2025 received kickoff briefings for “Future in Focus,” a coordinated project to update the city’s transportation system plan, comprehensive land‑use plan and parks, recreation and open‑space plan.

The effort, city staff said, will align three separate planning processes so residents and stakeholders can engage across topics that overlap on growth, mobility and open space. “This is a project we’re calling Future in Focus,” City staff member Joe Shushel said as he opened the item.

The coordinated work matters because state law and new legislative requirements intersect with fast local growth. Planning manager Mike Stevens told the council that Richland has been receiving a larger share of county growth than previously estimated: “here in Richland, we’re at 37,” he said, referring to the share of incoming county residents projected to move into the city.

Consultants outlined scopes and schedules. Stephanie Herstein, principal with Transpo Group, said the transportation system plan update will inventory existing conditions, update travel‑demand modeling with the Ben Franklin Council of Governments, define 10‑ and 20‑year multimodal project lists, and recommend a project‑prioritization rubric and sustainable funding strategies. “For this update, the objective is to support your overall comprehensive plan and your vision. It's to meet the Growth Management Act requirements and the region requirements,” Herstein said.

Herstein described public engagement methods the consultant will use — online surveys, fact sheets, pop‑up events (for example at farmers markets) and public workshops — and said a project steering committee will include technical representatives such as WSDOT, Ben Franklin Transit and bicycle‑community members. She said the schedule anticipates final adoption in early 2026 and that Transpo will coordinate closely with the comprehensive plan team.

Stevens summarized the comprehensive plan periodic update requirements and some policy drivers the city will need to address, including a required 10‑year periodic review of assumptions and a 20‑year planning horizon; updates to the city’s critical areas rules; and changes from recent state law. He cited House Bill 1110 (often discussed as “missing middle” legislation) requiring cities of Richland’s size to allow two housing units per lot in residential zones and additional allowances for up to four units in specified locations or where an affordable unit is provided and preserved under a long‑term restriction. Stevens also described a regional climate study tied to House Bill 1181 and said the resulting climate element will be incorporated into the comp plan.

On parks and open space, Chris Waite, director of parks, introduced MIG consultants John Fines and Lauren Scott, who described a four‑phase process that will update the city’s parks inventory, analyze level‑of‑service and access gaps, evaluate tree canopy and stewardship needs, produce a prioritized capital project list and identify funding and maintenance costs. “We will document that and start to look at those needs,” Scott said, describing analysis required by the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office to keep the city eligible for some grants.

Council members pressed several topics. Council member Van Dyke asked how consultants would reach a broad cross section of residents; Herstein said combining online engagement with in‑person outreach at community events and targeted workshops helps reach different audiences. Council member Ryan Luxon raised a recurring concern about planned mixed‑use developments where residential phases are built but commercial components do not materialize; Stevens said staff is considering multi‑year windows for accepting comprehensive‑plan amendments so the council and community can let adopted plans stabilize before frequent amendments are considered.

The councils and consultants also discussed coordination between the three efforts to avoid engagement fatigue and to reuse input where topics overlap, for example trail and multimodal connections that affect both transportation and parks planning.

Next steps: staff said the city expects a public participation plan and a draft scope (for the comprehensive plan, a public‑participation plan will be brought to council as a resolution), finalization of the AHBL subconsultant contract for the comp plan transportation element, and staged public engagement through 2025 into early 2026 for adoption actions.","Council heard kickoff briefings on three linked planning efforts — a transportation system plan, a 20‑year comprehensive plan periodic update and a parks, recreation and open‑space plan — and discussed outreach, timelines and state requirements including recent housing and climate laws.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Richland council splits on girls' sports letter; approves mayoral support for IAEA declaration

Richland reviews Public Facilities District agreements, contingency fund and regional sales‑tax limits

Richland launches 'Future in Focus' to coordinate transportation, land‑use and parks planning